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Photograph: (Getty Images)
The American Nightmare has brought about a financial empire. Through the Cody Rhodes Net Worth, you are delving into the saga of wrestling royalty who left certain security to gamble on himself and won in a very big way.
The son of the mythical American dream, Dusty Rhodes, Cody has made his way in WWE, left it in a dramatic fashion in 2016, and then made an impressive comeback in 2022 as one of the most valuable assets of the industry.
His net worth of the current 8 million dollars may not be impressive when compared to the old established superstars, however, it is important to consider the context: Rhodes is earning about 3 million a year, which makes him one of the top five highly paid members of WWE. His income increased fifteen times as compared to his initial WWE tenure.
In addition to the base pay, his revenue sources are merchandise royalty, pay-per-view bonuses, hefty endorsement contracts with Fanatics, Mattel, PRIME Hydration, and Wheatley Vodka. The two-time Royal Rumble winner and the present-day Undisputed WWE Champion is an illustration of the current economy of the wrestling industry; talent, time, and strategic career choices make people get rich in generations.
Full Name | Cody Garrett Runnels |
Ring Name | Cody Rhodes (The American Nightmare) |
Net Worth (2025) | $8 Million |
Age | 40 Years (Born June 30, 1985) |
Annual WWE Salary | $3 Million |
Primary Income Sources | WWE Contract, Merchandise Sales, PPV Bonuses, Endorsements |
Major Endorsements | Fanatics, Mattel Creations, PRIME Hydration, Wheatley American Vodka |
Contract Signed | 2024 (two-year extension before WrestleMania XL) |
WWE Championships | Undisputed WWE Champion, 2× Intercontinental Champion, 8× Tag Team Champion |
Spouse | Brandi Rhodes (married 2013) |
Children | 1 Daughter |
Cody Rhodes Net Worth in 2025
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However, as of 2025, Cody Rhodes has a net worth of about 8 million dollars, the amount confirmed by several industry reports. This can be called a tremendous growth taking into account his career path he left WWE back in 2016, worked his way up in the independent circles, became the co-founder of AEW, and became a main event participant again.
His acquisition of wealth is propelled at a high rate due to his present placement in the face of the WWE company. In comparison to veterans who had earned fortune during decades, Rhodes condensed his earning capacity in the process of strategic decisions: abandoning WWE money to demonstrate his value in other areas, and coming back with a fortune gained by several folds.
The fact that his salary of $3 million a year places him into the upper echelon of WWE but that is just the tip of the iceberg. His brand American Nightmare is sold in merchandise through which the company receives high royalties.
Bonuses based on pay-per-view on premium live events contribute a lot of revenue. Cody Rhodes Net Worth trend of the two-time Royal Rumble winner indicates that the trend would continue to increase in the next few years in particular since his contract is set to run past his 40th birthday with further performance bonuses tied to it.
Cody Rhodes Salary and Contract WWE
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What is the salary of Cody Rhodes every year? His WWE salary is reported to be in the range of 3 million dollars which is confirmed by Sports Illustrated, which makes him one of the five top-paid wrestlers in the company. The current long-term contract extension that Rhodes signed in 2024, immediately prior to WrestleMania XL, is an opportunity to sign a two-year strategic deal that keeps him tied up in 2027 at least.
Rhodes also declared in an interview with Flagrant podcast in October 2024 that he is currently making 15 times more than when he first signed a deal with WWE in 2006-2016. That's staggering growth. The contractual structure he has is a guaranteed yearly salary with performance-related bonuses that are based on the sale of merchandise, appearances on pay-per-view, and loyalty.
Dissecting his income every minute will show that Rhodes earns an hourly wage of $5.70 even when asleep, that is, $342 an hour, $8208 a day, or about $250,000 a month, not counting the bonuses. His contract is allegedly far beyond his 40th birthday (June 30, 2025), which validates that WWE has long-term invested in as a franchise player in the Undisputed Champion.
Cody Rhodes Sponsorships
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The collection of his endorsed products is a very wide income source besides wrestling. His collaboration with Fanatics, the sports merchandising giant, cashes on his huge fan interaction and merchandise-selling strength. Mattel Creations holds Rhodes in their WWE action figure line and they receive royalties with every unit sold.
His PRIME Hydration is comparable to the Logan Paul and KSI beverage brand, and it targets younger audiences and social media advertising. Perhaps most distinctive? His tour bus also features prominently Wheatley American Vodka when he tours the world; a moving billboard that creates continuous awareness.
These sponsorship deals are likely to add to his annual income six figures, but the figures are not disclosed. Contrary to other wrestlers who promote anything just to make a living, Rhodes is brand selective and only agrees with businesses that fit his persona of the American Nightmare and family friendly. This is a strategic move that maintains his marketability even at its best value of endorsement where passive income sources will carry on and create revenue irrespective of whether in-ring activity is taking place or not.
Cody Rhodes Career Earnings
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The story of the evolution of Rhodes earnings is an interesting financial one. When he made his WWE debut in 2006 it was a developmental contract - probably no more than five figures per year. Between 2007-2016, as Cody Rhodes and then Stardust, his wages were likely between $200,000 and $500,000 a year, a good but not high amount of money.
His 2016 exit of WWE was a huge shock to the industry; he took a bet on assured revenue to go his own way. The 2016-2019 independent circuit run through NJPW, ROH, and TNA probably generated $300,000-$600,000 annually—decent, but requiring constant travel and self-promotion. The establishment of AEW in 2019 turned it all around.
Rhodes had an annual income of 1-2 million dollars (2022) as the executive vice president and wrestler along with a share in the expanding promotion. His market value was instantly increased by his April 2022 WWE return. His successful re-entry made him a candidate to get main event pay-his present 3 million dollar salary will be a payoff to his risk. Both of them: winning the Royal Rumble (2023, 2024) and the Undisputed WWE Championship established his financial capacity on the upward curve.
Cody Rhodes Merchandise
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There is a lot of merchandise that Rhodes has been earning on his trademark of American Nightmare in addition to his salary. There are dozens of Cody Rhodes products in WWE Shop: T-shirts, hoodies, replica belts, action figures, and collectibles. A five percent merchandise split (the industry average of top-level WWE talent) would ensure that each sale of $100,000 would give him a $5,000 direct payout.
As the Undisputed Champion and company face, he will sell more than several million dollars of merchandise each year, which will contribute six figures to his earnings. Rhodes is heavily featured in WWE 2K video games which bring in more royalties with every copy purchased. His appearances in WWE-originated productions and documentaries generate residual revenue.
His crossover popularity and added income were shown by the Rhodes to the Top reality show that was run during his time in AEW. His new podcast What Do You Wanna Talk About? It is another revenue generator with sponsorships, advertising and potential platform offerings with debut guest Brandi Rhodes being a (May 2025) show. Such diversified sources of income are hedging against injury or fewer in-ring schedules.
Cody Rhodes Real Estate and Assets
Although Rhodes enjoys relative privacy in terms of the property holdings when compared to flambier wrestlers, Cody Rhodes Net Worth of $8 million indicates that he is an asset manager. He has a house in Georgia where he lives together with his wife Brandi and daughter Liberty.
Rhodes is not wasteful with money and instead, invests in the increasing value of assets instead of consumption, unlike some wrestlers who use it to buy luxury goods that depreciate over time. His tour bus, which is sponsored by Wheatley Vodka, is also a dual-purpose vehicle as his personal transportation and a mobile platform with an endorsement, probably a business expense that he can deduct taxes.
The investment strategy of Rhodes appears to be oriented on family safety instead of flaunt. The fact that brandi is the owner of a yoga studio would indicate that the couple have other sources of income other than wrestling and that they are starting business ventures that would help them remain afloat when his in-ring career is bound to come to a close.
The later financial difficulties faced by his father Dusty Rhodes, despite the legends, may have impacted his less spendthrift attitude towards wealth management, where the long-term safety is more important than the short-term indulgence and the generational provision of his daughter Liberty.
Personal Life and Family
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In 2013, Cody Rhodes got married to Brandi Reed (professionally Eden Stiles) with whom he met during the time they worked in WWE when she was a ring announcer. Their partnership extends beyond marriage into business collaboration—Brandi served as AEW's Chief Brand Officer alongside Cody's executive vice president role.
They managed to last despite the dangerously reckless career choices Cody made, such as quitting the stable WWE earnings twice. They had daughter Liberty, and this brought fresh incentive in the finances of Cody. The fact that Brandi has shifted from being a wrestler to the owner of a yoga studio proves the entrepreneurial spirit of the couple to generate several revenue sources beyond the fluctuating entertainment industry of WWE.
The family has relatively personal lives despite the enormous publicity that Cody has, and she occasionally provides a glimpse into their lives with their Rhodes to the top documentary series. Their partnership exemplifies modern wrestling couples balancing public careers with private family life.
The recent launch of a podcast with Brandi as the first guest by Cody promotes the fact that their cooperation in the sphere of professional work will continue, whereas the boundaries are not crossed that would disclose the childhood of Liberty to extreme publicity.
Also Read | How Much Is John Cena Net Worth? WWE Salary, Earnings & Net Worth
Conclusion
The fact that Cody Rhodes has a net worth of $8 million is not a symbol of accrued wealth, but the reward of the largest gamble in the history of modern wrestling. The 2016 departure of the WWE security, moving through the independent circuits, co-founding AEW and then returning with a $3 million annual contract are a betting on oneself that works when supported by indisputable talent.
Twelvefold higher than the income of his first run, this made him one of the highest earners of WWE despite his relative youth in comparison to most of them. In addition to his base salary, his merchandise royalties, endorsement agreements with Fanatics, Mattel, PRIME Hydration, and Wheatley Vodka offer diversification to his revenue stream that cushions against volatility in the industry.
The financial trend of the double Royal Rumble champion and the current undisputed WWE champion is on the rise. His tale is relatable since it is earnestly acquired, no shortcuts, just cold blooded career choices and a hardworking attitude makes the American Dream of his father more realistic and he creates his own American Nightmare legacy which is a financial dream come true by all standards.
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